The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-07
YACHT MEN MYST.FIED.
A CHANGE IN THE DEED Of GIFT
OF THE CUP.
A Committee Whose Objet is Not
xplained-Honors and Colrtesies to
ha Given

be Given.
From the Mem York Tins
The New York Yacht Club last night
took step which &c ninety
nine out of 100 members
will be very mysterious until the few who
are behind the movement choose to explain
their scheme. The action was unanimously
agreed to simply because no one Kew any
reason to oppose it. When the melting was
quickly adjourned the clubmen discussed the
matter. The various shades of opinion were
expressed freely. One man offeed a bet of
500 that the cup will not be aiken away
next year, and almost had hi offer taken
when another yachtman called out, 81
will wager $500 that there wol't be con-
test or show of contest fol three years."
SO certain did he seem that no one in the
crowd was willing to take hin up.
The unexplained action talen which led to
this conversation was the adoption of a re-
solution as follows:
ResoIred That committee of five be an
pointed by the Chair to coner with Mr. George
L. Schuyler on the subjeci of amending the
deed of gift of the America cup, and with full
power and authority necessary to effect any
changes in such deed of gif. and the acceptance
thereof which may be mutually agreed upon be-
tween them and Mr.. Schuyler.
The committee appointed consists of James
D. Smith, Charles j. Iaine, Philip Schuy-
Ter, Governor Kortwight, Latham A.
Fish, and Elbridge I. Gerry. Not one of
them who was at the Meeting would ven
ture to tell what changs in the gift of deed
were contemplated. Nor would anybody
else. 1--WE don't know What it means" they
said, land we can't tdl there is report
made" Secretary Bin professed to be as
ignorant as the most irritable landsman,
but half intimated that was passed simply
to provide for emergencies. 1t was gen
orally conceded, howeve, by the club men
that the doings of thi; committee might
materially affect the conditions of the next
race
There was plenty of tax about the chan
ces of a contest next yeal Some prophesied
that there would not be my match at all.
One gentleman said he sud he hoped the
foreign designer would soimprove upon the
Thistle that the Americas would be beaten
Then" said the speaker "Mr. Burgess
according to what he has promised-will
build boat on the keel type which will
conquer the English or the Scotch in their
own waters, and this kind If victory would
be the grandest achievement we could boast
of A part of the club pu little faith in
suggested challenge by Charles Sweet. Still
Mr.. Sweet has shown himslf to be so far
interested as to send this Litter to Secretary
Bird:
AUG. 30, 1887.
John H. Bird, Esq:
DEAR SIR beg to Inform you, as represent
ing the New York Yacht Club, that it is my in
tention to challenge for tie Americas cup. and
that the formal challeng,, with the documents
and particulars required by the deed of gift,
will be forwarded as Don as possible. The
yacht will be owned ~ myself and another
yachtsman. AS the position of a challenger
may be considered antagonistic to the club hold
ing the cup, think it right to tender my resig-
nation as a member Of the New York Yacht
Club. do so with much regret, as all my re
lations with the club have been of the most
pleasant nature. an, very truly,
CHARLES SWEET.
The date of this letter has been comment
ed upon, but Secretary Bird said that as he
did not receive it until Sept. 80, it was
probably written hat day and misdated
August. As Lieut. Hem, of the Galatea,
and Sir Richard Sutton, of the Genesta,
both of which boats have been hostile to the
club, are members of the New York Yacht
Club, it is likely that Mr.. Sweet will be
asked to with draw his resignation. He is a
Scotchman with business interest in Amer
lea, and has many friends in New York.
The fellow-yachtsman who will join him in
the challenge is one of the men who came to
look after the Thistle in the recent races. If
Mr.. Sweet has boat built it will probably
be of the narrow cutter type. He owns the
swift Clara, which bears more square feet
of canvas to the ton than any centreboard
sloop of her dimensions Tina knowing men
go so far as to say that the new competitor
will be constructed on lines brought out by
Mr.. Watson some mouths ago for a yacht
SO feet on the water line and Is feet
beam. This boat would scarcely come in
the Volunteers class.
There is little new about what will be
done by Americans to defend the cup. A
feeling is growing that it would only be a
fair thing to relieve Gen. Paine of the cost
of building new boat. Besides talking
informally about these matters the club
arranged to provide for a dinner to Gen.
Paine and Mr.. Burgess on an evening when
they think they will be strong enough to
bear up under all the fine words that the
Clubmen want to say to them. 1t will be a
subscription feast, and the members declare
that it will surpass the grandest entertain
ments that the club has ever given. They
are going to do honor to Mr.. Bell also by
means of a reception, to which the loyal
Scots will all be invited. Mr.. Bell wrote
Mr.. Bird that Tuesday, Oct. II, would suit
him best, so that night has been decided
upon. Mr.. Bells particular friends, G. L.
Watson, the designer; Com. John Clark,
George Goats, William Clark, j. B. Hilliard,
Andrew Coats and Robert Wylie will be
honored also that evening.
The club voted last night to contribute
5000 to the subscription started in behalf Of
Mr.. Burgess. One enthusiast said the purse
would amount to $4,000 before the people
got through with it. Subscriptions are to
be accepted from all Americans. 1t was
also agreed at the meeting to present Gen.
Paine with some sort of testimonial for
thrice defending the cup. The gift will
cost $500, and will probably be silver cup.
The chances of a general race over a five
mile course in the Sound, though strongly
urged by the Larchmont Club, are few, as
the big boats are scattering fast.
Boston is getting up reception in honor
Of Mr.. Paine and Mr.. Burgess.
The Volunteer lay at anchor yesterday a
few rods from the Bay Ridge shore. Her
racing spars were all slowed and her work
ing canvas neatly housed, while two sailors
were busily engaged in giving her hull an
extra coat of white paint above the water
line. The Thistle has shifted her anchorage
over to Tompkinsville. Yesterday she had
all her racing canvas out to dry, and even
the crew had their weeks washing strung to
the jib stays The Volunteer will sail to-
day for Boston, everything having been
put in readiness for the trip Capt. Half
declares that the Volunteer will not race
again with the Thistle. The American
sloop, he says, has demonstrated her superb
GRITTY at every point, and another race could